Video: HBO 24/7 Catches Martin, Red Wings Chirping

HBO is once again following the teams headed to the Winter Classic in their annual NHL 24/7 series. This year it's the Maple Leafs and Red Wings and if you're watching tonight's episode it features the Islanders and Red Wings at the Coliseum from last month. And HBO's cameras caught Matt Martin and Drew Miller chirping on the bench about a play Martin made that Miller thought was minor league. It's a pretty funny exchange and also take this as your warning there's about as much cursing as you can possibly fit in a five second clip.http://instagram.com/p/ifa7PGRm44/

Tonight's game: Stars vs. Islanders, 7 p.m.

5:30PM

Dec 11, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; New York Islanders left wing Andrew Ladd (16) celebrates his goal against the Washington Capitals with teammates during the second period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner)

NEW YORK -- A pair of goaltenders could be in the spotlight Wednesday night when the New York Islanders host the Dallas Stars at Barclays Center in the teams' final meeting of the season.

Both teams were off Tuesday after snapping three-game losing streaks Monday night. The Islanders ended their skid by beating the visiting Washington Capitals 3-1. The Stars snapped out of their slump and began a four-game Eastern Conference road trip by outlasting the host New York Rangers 2-1 in the shootout.

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Pulock's growth continues to impress coach Weight

12:32PM

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(Jerome Miron)

Islanders D Ryan Pulock has transformed his game since last season, and it is impressing head coach Doug Weight.

Pulock showed spurts of an everyday defenseman last season, but it was consistent play. He wasn't being as aggressive as he could be. However, that has changed since Pulock returned to the Isles' lineup on Dec. 1.

"Whether you're sitting out or you have a bad game, sometimes you make a decision. And it sounds so easy, but I think he just came in a few games ago and it was like, 'OK, that's the guy,'" Weight told Newsday's Arthur Staple. "Quick hands, lugging the puck, stapling guys (to the wall) in his own zone. I think he fed off that."...

Halak notches 31 saves in much-needed positive performance in net

Dec 12 | 12:39PM

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(Brad Penner)

The Islanders needed a big game from one of their struggling goalies against a dangerous Capitals offense, and Jaroslav Halak stepped up big in the team's 3-1 win Monday night.

Head coach Doug Weight has said that he wanted to help his goalies in Halak and Thomas Greiss figure what has forced them to be inconsistent so far this season. He also didn't care that many were confused as to why Halak was getting his third straight start.

Isles detailed redevelopment plan for Belmont Park on Sunday

Dec 11 | 11:00AM

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(Brad Penner)

The Islanders and New York City FC both revealed their proposal plans for the redevelopment of Belmont Park at Elmont Memorial High School on Sunday.

The Isles plan consisted of a 18,000-seat, year-round arena that would be host to about 150 events each year, according to Newsday's Jim Baumbach and Stefanie Dazio. Along with the arena, 435,000 square feet will be available for retail as well as a hotel and 10,000 square-foot "innovation center." This center will be built with input from residents in the area.

NYCFC plans for a slightly larger arena with 26,000 seats as well as 400,000 square feets for retails. They also want to add a 5.2-acre community park and a 2-acre soccer facility on the grounds.

What we're seeing lately with regard to the New York Islanders is not unprecedented. The team is suffering from what I warned of, in print and on the Secondary Assist podcast: A regression. All teams go through it. The larger question is, how soon until they get out of it?

The answer to that will ultimately decide their 2017-18 fate, not the sole fact that they suffered one...

Tonight's game: Islanders vs. Bruins, 7 p.m.

Dec 9 | 5:30PM

BOSTON -- Back in June 2015, the Boston Bruins owned three straight picks in the first round of the NHL draft.

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Isles practice penalty kill in wake of two more power-play goals Thursday

Penguins scored two power plays goals in overtime loss Thursday night

Dec 8 | 8:10PM

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(Brad Penner)

With the Penguins scoring two power-play goals in Thursday night's 4-3 overtime loss, Isles head coach Doug Weight devoted a full hour at practice Friday to fix his team's penalty kill.

The Islanders definitely need help in that area as they currently sit 30th in the league with a 73.3 percent efficency on penalty kill opportunities. Thursday night marked the fourth straight game the team has allowed two power-play goals as well.

After a 45-minute video session, the Isles took the ice to practice their penalty kill for a full hour, which Weight thought was necessary to figure out what is going wrong.

The Islanders' penalty kill is woeful? Don't look at the assistant coaches

New York Islanders right wing Joshua Ho-Sang clears a loose puck from in front of his own gaol as Pittsburgh Penguins center Riley Sheahan tries to score during the overtime period at PPG PAINTS Arena. (Don Wright/USA TODAY Sports)

Today's subject is assistant coaches. The premise: it's unfair to make the special teams failings of the Islanders or any other team all about one or two assistant coaches.

But I'd like to start by asking you rabid hockey fans to rack your brains for a moment.

For as long as you have been following the NHL, can you think of ANY assistant coach who was or is regarded as an absolute special teams genius, a maestro of the power play or penalty kill?

Mathew Barzal and Brock Nelson scored goals in the third period help the Islanders tie the game, but Pittsburgh's Matt Hunwick scored the game-winner in overtime to lead the Penguins to a 4-3. win >> Box score

Tonight's game: Islanders vs. Penguins, 7 p.m.

Dec 7 | 6:35PM

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Nov 24, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Islanders left wing Andrew Ladd (16) celebrates a goal by center Mathew Barzal (13) during the first period of the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports (John Geliebter)

PITTSBURGH -- After winning the past two Stanley Cups, the Pittsburgh Penguins usually find themselves circled on opponents' calendars. Despite some inconsistency, they lived up to the billing recently.

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Coach Weight looking to help his struggling goalies

Dec 7 | 2:41PM

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(Kim Klement)

Head coach Doug Weight believes his goaltender situation needs to be addressed as he doesn't have a definitive starter between Thomas Greiss and Jaroslav Halak.

Greiss has been struggling of late, owning a 3.79 goals-against average and a .890 save percentage this season. Though Greiss says he's fine, Weight thinks he needs to figure out what is plaguing the veteran goalie.

"Thomas is such an easygoing guy, he's always, 'I'm fine, I'm fine, it's all good.' But I think it's something we have to address rather than ignore," Weight told Newsday's Arthur Staple. "We've got to help him through it. He's not dreadful. He's had some bad luck, some games he's played well where his numbers weren't great. Now you pair it with what you've seen the last couple weeks, we've got to fix it."

Islanders valued at $395 million in 2017

Dec 6 | 11:15AM

Despite there being a 3-percent increases from a season ago, it is less than the $485 million Jon Ledecky, Scott Malkin, and the rest of the group paid for Charles Wang's controlling interest in the franchise.

The biggest statistic that stands out is the team's $8.6 million loss in operating income last season compared to a $2.7 million income in 2015.

Dec 6 | 9:06AM

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(Jonathan Dyer)

Despite the Islanders making a comeback, lack of penalty kills forced their hand in the loss to the Lightning, 6-2, on Tuesday night.

It was a slow first period with the Isles only taking three shots on net. However, the second saw a different team that would muster two goals to tie the game up. Momentum looked to be on the side of the road team, but two penalties would change all of that as the Lightning capitalized on both power-play chances at the end of the second to take a controlling 4-2 lead that they wouldn't surrender the rest of the way.

After awful penalty kills of late, head coach Doug Weight is confused as to what happened to his unit.

Mathew Barzal's former junior GM knew the Isles drafted a gem

Russ Farwell, the longtime general manager of the Western Hockey League's Seattle Thunderbirds, knows how difficult it is to select the best teenage hockey players in the NHL Draft. As a former GM of the Flyers in the early '90s, like his colleagues he had his share of hits and misses.

But even Farwell was surprised to see the uniquely gifted Mathew Barzal, one of the best players in Seattle history, go unselected for 15 picks - including selections 13, 14 and 15 by the Boston Bruins - before Garth Snow and the Islanders snapped him up in the 2015 NHL Draft.

"We were aware of teams across the NHL that had Mathew as high as fourth or fifth overall in their rankings," Farwell said in a phone conversation from Seattle. "I know Carolina liked him a lot, but decided to go with a good defenseman [Noah Hanfin, fifth overall]. And sure, I was bit surprised he went by those picks Boston had."

Mathew Barzal the hero in a wild Islanders win on Monday

Dec 5 | 10:00AM

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(Robert Mayer)

It was a crazy game down in Orlando, but the Islanders managed to squeak out two points on the road thanks to Mathew Barzal.

This game saw everything from a star goalie in Roberto Luongo carried off the ice with an injury to Cal Clutterbuck needing to be held back from an official. The cherry on top was the 4-4 tie that couldn't be settled in overtime, and needed a shootout to determine a winner. Luckily for the Isles, Jaroslav Halak was a brick wall and Barzal was the only player to find the back of the net.

It was wild, but the Islanders will be happy leaving Florida with two points...

Islanders beat Panthers in shootout after wild second period

Dec 4 | 10:40PM

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New York Islanders center Anders Lee celebrates his goal against the Florida Panthers with left wing Josh Bailey, defenseman Calvin de Haan and defenseman Adam Pelech (50) in the first period at BB&T Center. (Robert Mayer/USA TODAY Sports)

The New York Islanders beat the Florida Panthers in a shootout after scoring four goals apiece in regulation on Monday at BB&T Center. >> Read more

Islanders' high-powered offense to test Panthers

Dec 4 | 6:07PM

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New York Islanders center John Tavares celebrates a goal against the Ottawa Senators by center Anders Lee during the second period at Barclays Center. (Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports)

The New York Islanders, who lead the NHL in scoring, expect to go up against one of the league's all-time great goalies, Roberto Luongo, on Monday night when they face the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center.

The Islanders (15-8-2) are led by center John Tavares, who ranks third in the NHL with 16 goals. His team is first in the league with an average of 3.72 goals per game.

Belmont or bust: Isles, NYFC final two candidates for new arena

Dec 4 | 4:13PM

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(Brad Penner)

The bid for Belmont Park is now only two as the Islanders and New York City Football Club are the final bidders for the arena project, per Newsday's Robert Brodsky.

Both organizations will be able to outline their visions for their respective projects this Sunday during a public meeting. The third bidder, Blumenfeld Development Group, withdrew its bid for Belmont after saying the state's "extraordinary requirements" for the property make it appear the selection was predetermined to include the final two candidates.

Brian Erni, SNY.TVTwitter | Archive Posts: I think Ledecky is playing his cards perfectly. He knows that the Belmont site is, at best, NYCFC's third choice. Every time he says that there is no Plan B, he gently reminds ESD that awarding the site to the Islanders not only means guaranteed development, but immediate development, to an organization that wants to be a part of the Elmont community.

The New York Islanders lost their first game in regulation at Barclays Center this season Friday night to the Ottawa Senators, a wild 6-5 affair, and the reaction on social media from some was….well, sadly, expected.

Tonight's game: Islanders vs. Senators, 7 p.m.

Dec 1 | 6:00PM

Nov 25, 2017; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) makes a save on a shot from New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) in the first period at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports (Marc DesRosiers)

NEW YORK -- The hottest team in the NHL will face one of the league's coldest squads Friday night when the New York Islanders host the Ottawa Senators at Barclays Center.

The Islanders earned their season-high fourth straight win as well as their seventh victory in eight games Tuesday when they beat the visiting Vancouver Canucks 5-2. The Senators' worst skid in nearly six years continued Wednesday, when they suffered their seventh straight loss with a 2-1 defeat to the host Montreal Canadiens.

The four-game winning streak by the Islanders (15-7-2) is the longest in the NHL entering Thursday night. The run has been fueled by versatility up and down the lineup for New York, which has outscored the opposition 16-10 and received goals from 11 players during the run.

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Andrew Ladd attributes improved start to health

Nov 30 | 7:55PM

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New York Islanders left wing Andrew Ladd (16) receives congratulations from teammates after scoring a goal in the first period against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. (Rick Osentoski)

Last season, Andrew Ladd didn't have the greatest start to his Islanders career. But, over the second half of the season, he picked up his form.

This season, he hasn't taken long to get off the bus, something that both he and head coach Doug Weight attribute to his health.

"My body is feeling better as a whole, which for me, has given me the opportunity to be more aggressive," Ladd told Cory Wright of the Islanders official website...

We've all heard the many complaints lodged over the course of the two-plus seasons the Islanders have called Barclays Center in Brooklyn home. However, the fact remains that the deal struck between former owner Charles Wang and BSE CEO Brett Yormark saved the team from relocating after the township of Hempstead decided it wasn't worth much of a fight to properly refurbish the Nassau Coliseum and keep the team where it played since their inception in 1972.

The relationship hasn't been perfect -- it's now known to be downright rocky at present -- but both sides have found a way to co-exist until a permanent solution is found. With the Jon Ledecky-Scott Malkin RFP for Belmont submitted last month, it's the Islanders' only known hope for getting a modern building of their own and remaining in the area...

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Trottier sees Tavares as Islander for life

Nov 29 | 5:48PM

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Jan 16, 2015; Uniondale, NY, USA; New York Islanders former player Bryan Trottier is honored before a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Brad Penner)

Hockey hall of famer and Islanders great Bryan Trottier hopes current Isles captain John Tavares never leaves the organization.

"We hope Tavares stays with us forever and dies an Islander," Trottier said Wednesday. "It just should be ... He wears the 'C 'so well."

Although he last played for the Islanders in 1990, Trottier and other former Islanders want to see their former franchise succeed. The 61-year-old spent 15 years on Long Island and was a key part of the Islanders' winning four straight Stanley Cups from 1980-1983.

Bettman 'unequivocally supportive' of Isles' Belmont arena bid

Nov 29 | 1:30PM

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said he is "wholly, fully, unequivocally supportive" of the Islanders' effort to land an arena deal at Belmont Park, according to Neil Best of Newsday. "I think it would be great," Bettman added. "I think it would be great for the Islanders. I think it would be great for the people of greater New York. I think it would be great for Long Island."

The Islanders submitted "a comprehensive proposal to create a world-class sports and entertainment destination" at Belmont Park on Sept. 28.

Andy Graziano, SNY.TVTwitter: Bettman has always been publicly supportive of the Islanders staying in the New York area, preferably Long Island. Say what you want about the man, like him or hate him, he knows the business of running a professional sports league and he has seen the NHL grow in a market where it's not second fiddle, but fourth.

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Islanders up for awards? Get out!

Garth Snow and Doug Weight's club has been a blast the first 24 games of the season. To the people who cover the league closely but the Islanders not closely enough, they are one of the surprise early hits of the season.

Like a lot of things when it comes to the Islanders, and this has almost always been the case throughout their history, it's like no one saw this coming.

Casey Cizikas did not practice Monday, Weight not sure when he will return

Nov 27 | 12:28PM

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(Noah K. Murray)

Islanders F Casey Cizikas didn't practice Monday as he continues to nurse a lower-body injury from Saturday's contest against the Senators.

Cizikas was sore, according to head coach Doug Weight, but the team is unsure when Cizikas will return to the ice.

"He's a little sore today so he took the day off," Weight said after practice, "but I don't think it's going to be anything serious. Could be 3 or 4 days, could be a week or he could be playing tomorrow."

The Islanders are set to face the Canucks Tuesday night followed by the Senators again on Friday. The 26-year-old center has notched eight points (four goals, four assists) in 23 games this season.

Halak's 31 saves help Islanders beat Senators, 2-1

Nov 25 | 9:58PM

Nov 25, 2017; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson (41) makes a save on a shot from New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) in the first period at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports (Marc DesRosiers)

Anders Lee and Jordan Eberle scored goals and Jaroslav Halak saved 31 of 32 shots to help the Islanders beat the Senators, 2-1, on Saturday night. at the Canadian Tire Centre. >> Box score

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Tonight's game: Islanders at Senators, 7 p.m.

Nov 25 | 4:24PM

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Nov 24, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Islanders left wing Andrew Ladd (16) celebrates a goal by center Mathew Barzal (13) during the first period of the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports (John Geliebter)

OTTAWA -- If the New York Islanders were on Cloud Nine as they flew north for Saturday night's game at Canadian Tire Centre, they surely didn't see their next opponents on the way.

The Ottawa Senators were slinking home at the same time.

Both teams had slow starts in the first of back-to-back games on Friday.

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Islanders come back to defeat Flyers 5-4 in overtime

Nov 24 | 7:56PM

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Nov 24, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Islanders left wing Andrew Ladd (16) celebrates a goal by center Mathew Barzal (13) during the first period of the game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports (John Geliebter)

It's been a complete 180 for the New York Islanders since the 2016-17 season under the early season leadership of Jack Capuano, as the team is 12-7-2 for 26 points -- an eight point improvement -- and the start that the coaching staff and players said they were searching for in training camp.

How they have done it has been unconventional, however, in the current times of the National Hockey League, and its strict adherence to defensive structure and keeping the puck out of your own net. It brings some of us older folk back to a time of the run-and-gun NHL when teams seemingly averaged four goals each per night, and a 3.00 goals against average was considered good.

After working overtime to grab a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday and enjoying some turkey the following day, the New York Islanders travel 90 minutes down the New Jersey Turnpike on Friday in a bid to a home-and-home sweep of their Metropolitan Division rival.

Tavares' impressive puck handling leads to Bailey's winning goal

Nov 23 | 8:18AM

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New York Islanders center John Tavares (Anthony Gruppuso/USA TODAY Sports)

While Josh Bailey was credited with the game-winning overtime goal in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, he was quick to credit Islanders forward John Tavares for setting up the goal with impressive puck handling along the boards.

Tonight's game: Islanders vs. Flyers 7 p.m.

Nov 22 | 5:30PM

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Nov 19, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; New York Islanders forward John Tavares (91) comes over the boards on a line change against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New York Islanders 4-2. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports (James Guillory)

NEW YORK -- The New York Islanders hope Thomas Greiss' return between the pipes will allow them to resume their winning ways. The reeling Philadelphia Flyers, on the other hand, have many more issues to worry about than just their goalie.

The two Metropolitan Division teams will renew their rivalry Wednesday night, when the Islanders host the Flyers in a Thanksgiving Eve clash at Barclays Center.

One of the laziest and corniest things you can do during Thanksgiving week is write a piece on everything you're thankful for. So that's exactly what I'm going to do.

Please indulge me, Islanders Country. Fact is, after all these years in this business on one side or the other, I've never taken the opportunity to say thank you. Perhaps I've become a bit sentimental.

Or maybe I'm feeling especially grateful. So here goes. If you give me this one, I'll do my best to write at least one Grinchy rant before the New Year.